Takeover Prediction Models and Portfolio Strategies: A Multinomial Approach

38 Pages Posted: 1 Jul 2015

See all articles by Ronan Powell

Ronan Powell

University College Dublin (UCD) - Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: June 30, 2015

Abstract

This paper uses a multinomial framework to develop several takeover prediction models. The motivation for this approach lies with Morck, Shleifer and Vishny (1988), who note that separate considerations are appropriate for predicting which firms are subject to hostile (disciplinary) and friendly (synergistic) takeovers in the USA. In a typical binomial setting, in which takeover targets are treated as belonging to one homogenous group, differences between hostile and friendly targets are ignored. This may result in biased takeover probabilities and poor predictive performance. Using UK data, the results from this paper show that the characteristics of hostile and friendlytargets do differ, particularly in terms of firm size. The multinomial models also have higher significance and explanatory power when compared to the binomial models. Furthermore, when the models are tested in an investment portfolio setting, the results suggest that a strategy of predicting hostile targets only, beats a benchmark control portfolio of firms of a similar size and market-to-book.

Keywords: multinomial logit; takeover prediction; abnormal returns; size effect

JEL Classification: G14, G34

Suggested Citation

Powell, Ronan G., Takeover Prediction Models and Portfolio Strategies: A Multinomial Approach (June 30, 2015). Multinational Finance Journal, Vol. 8, No. 1/2, p. 35-72, 2004, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2625155

Ronan G. Powell (Contact Author)

University College Dublin (UCD) - Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business ( email )

Blackrock, Co. Dublin
Ireland

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